DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE DESIGN OF PIN – JOINTED PLANE FRAMES

Abstract

This study was focused on developing a fit for purpose computer program for the analysis and design of a pin jointed plane frame with a goal to minimize material use which as well reduces overall weight of structure. The truss was analyzed using the matrix stiffness method. The design was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the British Standards: BS 5950-1 (2000) on ‘Structural use of steelwork in buildings”. This research work has the capacity to simultaneously design eight sections, namely; single bolted equal angle sections, single bolted unequal angle sections, double bolted equal angle sections, double bolted unequal angle sections, single welded equal angle sections, single welded unequal angle sections, double welded equal angle sections, double welded unequal angle sections. The developed program using Visual Basic programming language also details a truss system while giving room for varying the bolt diameter of the section and examining the design outcome. This gives room for optimizing the size of the bolt in the design to withstand the required axial force obtained during the analysis. The analysis and design results obtained using the developed Visual Basic computer program were validated using both manual design approach by using the Maxwell diagram and design based on Autodesk Robot software. It was revealed that the greatest absolute percentage difference between the values of forces obtained using Autodesk Robot and the developed program was 1.18% and 0.003% respectively when compared with manual approach. Furthermore, the truss member sections obtained using the manual approach, the Autodesk Robot software and the developed Visual Basic program were substantially the same.